The Al-Kharafi Construction Company is currently at the centre of a legal battle currently underway at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

The construction company is in trouble with the laws of The Gambia when a man in his late seventies instituted a legal action against it for allegedly defaulting in payment of money owed him by the company.

Alhaji Karamo Ceesay, a native of Kani Kunda, is claiming from Al-Kharafi Construction outfit nearly half-a-million dalasis and has now presented his case to a magistrates’ court in Banjul, expecting justice to take its course.

According to Ceesay in his testimony lately, sometime in 2006, the Al-Kharafi constructions needed some boulder stones for the erection of culverts along the Lamin Koto/ Farafenni road. He pointed out that as part of efforts in providing the stones, the company was directed to Kani Kunda where it was informed of the existence of boulder stones.

"Without any degree of civility and without seeking my consent, the workmen went ahead to scoop the 24 truck-loads of the boulder stones we collected since the late sixties for the construction of a wharf in Kani Kunda. But when I intervened, they asked me to meet them at their Farafenni office for payment," he adduced.

Ceesay pointed out that when he visited the company’s office in Farafenni, an undertaking was made that the money would be paid but this wasn’t done. "They only offered me D10,000 when they were issued sermons to appear before the court," he added.

He is now claiming from the Al-Kharafi Construction company D230,000 being cost for the 24 trips, D100,000 for damages and trespass and 32% interest from the date of the collection of the stones to the date of the judgement.

The case, presided over by magistrate George, resumes June 26.